Frame construction



March 10, 1931. J. DYKsTRA FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed April 7. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 March' 10, 1931. J, DYKSTRA 1,795,938

FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed April "l, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Waan Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PATET 'or-HCE f k.LAMES DYKsrRA,y or LANSING, Mrcrreaiv, essreivon .fro GENERAL morons ooRPoRA- f'rIoN, 0F nnrnornrrronrenn, A oonronn'rro'n or DELAWARE FRAME CONSTRUCTION lApplication filed April 7, 1928. Serial No. 268,190.

yThis invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to improvements in chassis frame construction.

One of the objects of the inventionris to 5 provide a cross member for the front ofthe carrier construction, and a rugged mounting 15 therefor at the rear ofthe Vehicle.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawa flat. shelf-like portion having a flanged in connection ing, wherein F ig. 1 is a side elevation of a chassis frame construction 5 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a chassis frame; v V

Fig. 3 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rear end of the chassis looking in the direction of the Y arrows on line 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a topk plan view of substantially half of the rear portion of the chassis frame;

`and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference characters 1-1 indicate a pair of longitudinally extending channel-shaped chassis frame members which vare connected with each other by a series of cross members 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at spaced intervals. The cross members 3, 4 and 5 are substantially alike and each is in the form of a downwardly open channel with marginal reinforcement flanges, the opposite ends of the member being riveted or otherwise secured to the bottom -lianges of the respective side members. There is also provided a similarly shaped brace memberk8 secured at its opposite ends to the cross member and to the top flange of the longitudinal member Y,50 respectively. Thetransverse member 2 aty the front ofthe chassisfframe is. ofl a relatively wide Z-shape and is dropped through` out the medial portion' of-its extent, asis shown particularly in Fig. 4. The vertical connecting web 9 is curved forwardly toward.v the center line` of the frame, and the ends ofthe lowermost leg 10 of the Z-shaped member are secured as byriveting or bolting to the bottom lianges ofthe side members,

while the upper leg -11 is secured at each end to the top fianges of the side frame members. Both legs 10 and 11 are provided with angular reinforcement fianges 12 and 13 respectively, the fiange l'having an angular ear 14 at either end which is riveted or` otherwise secured tothe bottom liange of the adjacent frame member. The vopposite ends of the leg portion 10 are providedwith opening fory the mounting thereon of the front portion ofthe power plant or engine, the radiator for which engine may be carried upon the upper leg 11. y f

Secured in the down-turned horn of each i frame member at the rear thereof is-a bracket or fitting lhaving a pair ofdependent ears,

.between which. is pivotally mountedgtlie terminal eye in the end of the load supporting spring 16. The bracketvmay also be used as a mounting or support for the yfender `guard orbuffer "17. Suspended between the` transverse members 6 and 7 byl means of a strap 18 having ran adjustable port, which extend beyondthe connecting cross web thereof.r The ears at one end.L of the supporting bars aresecured'by bolts 25 to the verticalI web atthe cross member. 6,v

and that portion ofv each bar overlying the gas tank is arched as at 26, while the ears atthe opposite end serve to mount brackets y 27, carrying an annular ring 28 upon which may be `mounted a spare tire. kA load supeok porting platform 29, preferably formed from sheet metal and corrugated or ribbed for stiffening purposes, rests upon and eX- tends across the pair of supporting bars and has an opening 30 for the projection therethru of the fuel tank filler spout 2l and is also provided with a dependent marginal flange 8l, secured by bolts 32 between the tire carrier brackets 27 and terminal ears 24. The platform may be utilized for carrying luggage and for this purpose there is shown a trunk or container 33 mounted thereon. The rearmost corners of the platform are cut away and the remaining end portions thereof extend over and cover the tops 'of the side frame members l, presenting a finished and pleasing appearance for the rear end assembly.

I claim:

1. 'A Chassis frame' including, in combination, a pair of channel-shaped side members and a series of transverse members connecting said side members, one of the transverse members being of substantially Z-shape in cross section, and dropped thruout `its i-ntermediate portion, Vthe vertical connecting web thereof vbeing in a plane curved forwardly from opposite ends .toward Y the center, means to connect the ends of the leg portions of Z-shaped cross member lto the top and bottom flanges respectively of the side members, one of said legs being provided adjacent its opposite ends with portions forming a :part of an .engine mounting.

2. A chassis frame member including, in combination, a pair of side members and a series of transverse members, one of which is of substantially Z-shape in cross section and dropped thruout its intermediate extent, with its vertical web lying in a plane forwardly curved toward the center-line of the frame, one ,of the legs of the Z-shaped member having portions adjacent its opposite ends which are adapted to supp'ortan engine or the like.

3. A chassis frame member `pressed from sheet metal into a relatively wide Z-shape in vcross section, and which is centrally dropped, theV connecting web .thereof lying in a forwardly cur-ved plane, and the leg portions thereof having lateral reinforcement flanges.

` 4. A chassis frame member pressed from sheet metal into a relatively wide Zshape in cross section, and which is centrally dropped, the connecting web thereof lying in a plane curved forwardly, and the leg portions, thereof having lateral reinforcement flanges, one of said flanges having an angular attachment ear and the other leg having a shelf-like portion for mounting an engine thereon.

5. A chassis frame including, in combination, a pair of channelled members, and a .connecting member pressed from sheet metal i aus 

